After strolling into the 200 metres final, Usain Bolt is a 5/4 chance to break a second world record tonight at the World Championships in Berlin.
Bolt’s semi-final time of 20.08secs was enough to secure a comfortable victory over the other eight qualifiers and Sky Bet offer 5/6 for the race to be won by more than 0.55 seconds. 11/2 is available for Bolt to go under 19 seconds.
Sky Bet’s athletics betting expert, Craig Ibbotson, said: “Bolt has cruised through the early rounds and is yet to dip under 20 seconds. However, you can guarantee he will be gunning to break another world record. The current world best is a tough one at 19.30secs, but Bolt is a one-off and it would not be a surprise if he yet again sets the track alight in Berlin.”
With the dearth of realistic challengers, the Jamaican superstar is 1/200 to complete the sprint double and Sky Bet are also betting on the 200m final without the short-priced favourite.
America’s Wallace Spearmon, who won bronze in Osaka in 2007, is Sky Bet’s even money favourite to go best of the rest, with his compatriot and 2008 Olympic silver medallist, Shawn Crawford, 7/2 third favourite in the betting without Bolt. 19-year-old Alonso Edward was in top form, winning his heat in 20.33secs and is 2/1 second favourite in the betting without Bolt.
Sky Bet pit the Panamanian teenager against the American duo in a pair of match bets and make Edward 4/7 to beat Crawford (5/4) and 6/4 to beat Spearmon (1/2).
Sky Bet Odds: Usain Bolt World Championships Specials
Bolt to break 200m world record in World Championships
Yes 5/4
No 4/7
Sub 19 seconds
Note: Will Usain Bolt go under 19 seconds in the 200m at the 2009 World Championships?
Yes 11/2
200m Final w/o Bolt
Spearmon W evens Clark C 33/1
Edward A 2/1 Guliyev R 50/1
Crawford S 7/2 Alerte, D 50/1
Mullings S 12/1
200m Final
Bolt U 1/200 Mullings, S 66/1
Spearmon, W 25/1 Clark, C 66/1
Edward, A 33/1 Alerte, D 100/1
Crawford, S 33/1 Guliyev, R 100/1
Winning Margin
0.55 seconds or less 5/6 more than 0.55 seconds 5/6
Matchbet 1
Edward A 4/7 Crawford S 5/4
Matchbet 2
Spearmon W 1/2 Edward A 6/4